The origins of firm of William Sloan and Company go back to 1825 when William Sloan, the nephew of the chemical manufacturer, Charles Tennant, began transporting the company’s products under the title of the St. Rollox Shipping Company. In later years the main routes of the company linked Glasgow with Belfast, Swansea and Bristol. The funnel colour was black with a distinctive white band and for many years was a familiar sight in the Glasgow harbour. The steamers were named after rivers around the British Isles. The steamers had limited passenger accommodation.
Sloan’s steamers sailed from the south side of the river at Windmillcroft Quay.
The upper river with a collection of Sloan’s steamers
The steamer Medway was built by Charles Connell & Co., Glasgow in 1886, and was sold in 1926 to Turkish owners.
Sloan’s Medway at Windmillcroft with Burns’ Alligator at the Broomielaw
In 1892, the company ordered three sister ships. Tweed was the first to arrive from the yard of D. J. Dunlop & Co., Port Glasgow and was a casualty of World War I when she was torpedoed off the Isle of Wight in 1918. The other two were built by R. Napier & Sons, Glasgow; Yarrow in 1893 and Ettrick in 1894. The former was sold in 1929, while the latter was wrecked in the River Avon in 1924.
Sloan’s Ettrick
York Street Ferry with Sloan’s steamers
Yarrow passing Yorkhill
One of Sloan’s steamers, probably the Yarrow passing the Cumberland at Govan
In 1903, Findhorn came from the yard of D. Rowan & Co., Glasgow and completed by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Troon. She had her passengers accommodation removed in 1932 but lasted with the company until 1956.
Findhorn
A quasi-sister of the Findhorn came from the yard of Dunsmuir & Jackson, Ltd., Glasgow, in 1907, and was also completed by the Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The Annan also had her passenger accommodation removed in 1932 and was broken up in 1958.
Advertising card featuring Annan
After Word War I, a number of the older Sloan’s steamers were sold and in 1924, Brora was the earliest replacement, coming from the Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Troon. Two others, Beauly and Orchy, came from the same yard in 1924 and 1930 respectively. Brora was scrapped in 1959, as was her sister Beauly.
Brora (Robertson)
The company was taken over by Coast Lines in 1958.
Langmuir, G. E.; Somner, G. H., “William Sloan & Co. Ltd., Glasgow 1825-1968,” World Ship Society, Kendal, 1987.
February 2, 2016
As a youngster sailed from Cardiff to Belfast and Glasgow with my dad who was a sea captain. He then worked ashore for company in Cardiff.
February 2, 2016
Morag: Hope the smattering of information on this site is helpful. I’m always learning here. Graham
January 19, 2017
Hi Graham
It was great finding your site and the details on Sloan and Coy included here. My Grandfather Norman Macleod [1872/1952] was employed by Sloans at various levels of Mate until he attained his Master’s ticket and sailed for them. I know he was Aged 34 and recorded on the 1911 census as McLeod, 2nd Mate of SS Findhorn berthed in Bristol on census night 2 April 1911. Married man.
His son, my uncle John Norman “Jack” Macleod was lost when HMS Cossack was torpedoed in the South Atlantic on the 23rd October 1941, whilst escorting a slow convoy from Gibraltar. In his eulogy, printed in the Stornoway Gazette, it stated that Grandfather Norman was a first officer for many years with Sloan & Co, shipowners, Glasgow and that he was called back from retiral to act as shore superintendent for Sloans during World War II.
Round about there, my info on Norman’s ships and career dries up. My only other data refers to Norman marrying Ann Bannatyne Clark at Lauriston Parish Church in the Gorbals on 09 Jun 1908. In the marriage record she is shown as being aged 27 of 241 Paisley Road, Glasgow, a ship stewardess. It could be a reasonable presumption that Ann was a Stewardess with Sloans.
I have been unable to find any further details of Norman [or Ann’s] Merchant Marine history. Any help you could provide in pointing me to crew lists or similar would be greatly appreciated.
I have done some research in London and Glasgow, but since I live in South Australia, it’s a bit hard hunting down records.
Cheers
Stuart Macleod
January 20, 2017
Dear Stuart: I’ve no direct records to access on the individuals but I will do some digging. Someone with more expertise might come across your request and be able to help. Kind regards, Graham
December 25, 2018
As I youngster I too made two trips. One from Bristol to Glasgow via Belfast, in a severe gale in I think the Orchy the second from Glasgow direct to Bristol, I think in the Findhorn, in a flat calm. My grandfather, David, Tennant, Churchill Sloan was the last Sloan to run the company before the takeover by Coast Lines. I am currently on a Hurtigruten coaster travelling up the Norwegian coast and am struck by the way they still operate as coastal packets, picking up odd cargo here and there and taking it where it wants to go. Also they are struggling with the question of cargo vs passengers. Currently passengers are winning!
June 25, 2019
Delighted to read about Wm Sloan and co. My father’s cousin was an engineer on Sloan’s boats. His name Was Colin Wilson and maybe some of your subscribers have come across his name in their research. He was more like an Uncle to me and I always looked forward to his coming home to hear his tales ( providing he was sober enough to tell them). At the time he would stay with my grandmother and I would be up from England for my summer holidays so as a 10 year old I looked forward to his stories about the ships he sailed in. Happy days ! Alas he has long gone as have the ships but the memories are as vivid as ever.
August 8, 2019
My first ship ever, when I joined the Merchant Navy as a galley boy was the S.S. Beauly (O.N. 147919 G.T 1029, R.T. 403) My first trip on 3rd. August 1955was out of Glasgow thence to Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff and Barry. The master was Captain L.Lamont. Not sure but I think the crew numbered 12 several of whom came from Stornoway.
August 8, 2019
I am sure that my uncle Colin Wilson served as Chief Engineer at some stage in his career with Sloane’s aboard the Beauly. Maybe he was one of your crew mates.
October 7, 2023
I think this William Sloane is my ancestral Grandad , I have been searching for ages this site has only just popped up. Feeling emotional. I love this. ❤️
November 12, 2023
Hi Graham,
There is a very interesting article about the Companies that operated the steamers between Belfast, Glasgow and Ardrossan at:
https://ebha.org/ebha2010/code/media_168914_en.pdf
It mentions Robert Henderson of Belfast (c1811-1876), who was the father-in-law of my wife’s 2nd cousin 2x removed. Robert was a shipping Agent in Belfast but was also involved in the ship building and ferry trade. In 1847, he became a Commissioner of Belfast Harbour Board and, in 1853, formed the Belfast Screw Steam Shipping Co. In 1858, he became a shareholder in William Sloan & Co., of Glasgow and acted as their agents in Belfast. He, however, declined to get involved when approached, in 1862, by James R Napier to take over the Ardrossan Steamship Company. His son, Robert Henderson 1842-1895 carried on the business but, he had no issue and shortly before his death, William Sloan & Co acquired the goodwill and trade from Silloth to Douglas, Isle of Man and Dublin from Robert Henderson and Co, part owners of some of Sloan’s earlier ships, together with the steamer CALEDONIAN (1874).
Both Robert Henderson (jnr) and his brother Edward had married well to Charlotte and Marion Cumming, who had both inherited substantial monies from the sale of the 600 acre Barremman Estate near Roseneath Dunbartonshire, including the village of Clynder, to Robert Thom of Canna, in 1871, by their father, Robert Crawford Cumming (1808-1876).
November 12, 2023
John: A most interesting article indeed, and what a rare piece of research. I can appreciate the effort it takes to delve into there early ship-owners and ship-builders. Your own connection with the Henderson family is fascinating. What a great story. I would never have made a connection with Barremman had you not pointed it out. Terrific information. Thank-you. Graham